Over the course of the past few years, reading spikes among the younger generations have been on a bit of an up-and-down trend. Some sources, such as Forbes, state that Gen Z is reading less while AI is on the rise, essentially stating that most young people think they don’t need to read when there is something that can do it for them, as well as COVID playing a major factor. 

On the other hand, there are others that relay the sentiment that younger generations are, in fact, reading more, and that was a byproduct of the subculture of readers on social media becoming so increasingly popular that there is a whole section of most social media apps that is dedicated to people who like to read.

Everyone’s experience with reading is extremely different. There are some who read fast and slow, not everyone likes the same genres, etc. But with all of this said, the conversation around reading is very rampant. So much so that many of the conversations have circled back to the point of origin for many readers — the library.

Libraries are an important part of the lives of many people, not just readers. Along with their catalog of books, they also carry DVDs, CDs, and computers. Most local libraries are even the host of community activities, especially for young people. 

Libraries are also an important part of the college experience, as many students visit to study, interact with other students, and, of course, check out material, whether that may be for their classes or for personal pleasure, is up to the student. Rowan University has felt the absence of its library, as the Campbell Library has been under renovation since May 2024, though students can still access the services. 

In place of the Campbell library, the local community libraries around Glassboro still have their doors open for anyone to use their services. More specifically, the Glassboro Public Library is located on Rowan Boulevard. 

Some Rowan students, such as Delaney McCoy, junior, sociology major, feel that the presence of local libraries, such as this one, is a helpful resource to college students who want to read for pleasure or need a book for class, with the absence of a library on campus.

“I do think the libraries around here are good, because our library has been closed for like a year and a half now. So I think going to the community libraries is definitely beneficial,” said McCoy.

McCoy also emphasized that visiting the local library is a way to give back to the community.

“I feel like libraries are not important to people anymore. So I think it’s good that students go and keep them active,” said McCoy.

Another student, Gabriella Borca, a sophomore, public health and wellness major, feels that students having access to other local libraries will lead them to read more and become more educated on topics, especially in the age of the internet.

“I think it’s really important to read, because we can’t really believe everything you see on the internet, so books are very important … like with being more educated about everything, having access to more books [is important],” said Borca.

From the perspective of an employee, there is McKenzi Taylor, who is the General Manager of the branch, and she states that the library does welcome new faces, including students, even though most don’t know that they can use the facilities there.

“One thing that I feel like the college students don’t realize is that if you live on campus or even rent in town, you can get a library card through us as long as you don’t carry a card with another library within the county … With Campbell being closed for the time being we have had an influx of students come in to use our facilities to study as well and I do want students to know they are certainly welcomed,” said Taylor.

Over the course of time, it has been shown how important reading is for just about everyone, no matter whether the particular person enjoys reading or not. But having a resource such as the library, which doesn’t even end at books, is a great way to build community, especially in smaller communities such as Glassboro.

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